Resale sites face complaints over World Cup and concert tickets

Ticket resale platforms are facing a rise in complaints from customers who say their tickets were cancelled close to event time, leaving them stranded and seeking refunds. CBC News reported cases involving World Cup fans and concertgoers who bought tickets months in advance through resale services such as StubHub and SeatGeek. In one case, a fan from Ontario said she and her father travelled to New Jersey for a World Cup match after receiving repeated assurances that their tickets were valid, only to learn shortly before the game that the tickets were unavailable. A similar dispute involved a Toronto woman who bought tickets for a Bruce Springsteen concert in Cleveland. After her original tickets were removed, she purchased replacement seats at the last minute and later received a refund and additional compensation after the complaint was reviewed. The companies said some of the problems were linked to event ticketing systems, transfer restrictions and platform issues. The reports have renewed concerns about the reliability of resale sites for major events, especially when travel and other costs are involved.